TERROR IN LITTLETON: THE ECHOES

TERROR IN LITTLETON: THE ECHOES; Wave of Copycat Threats Leads To Swift Responses Across U.S.

By JOHN T. McQUISTON

Published: April 24, 1999

A wave of copycat threats of violence prompted by the Tuesday massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., led school and law-enforcement officials across the country to respond quickly to any new sign of trouble, even if the threats were pranks brought on by a dose of youthful spring fever.

Scores of students were suspended, some for wearing black trench coats like those worn by the two Columbine seniors who apparently killed a dozen classmates and a teacher before turning their guns on themselves. Others were arrested for more serious offenses, like calling in bomb threats to force the closing of schools, carrying guns and threatening students and teachers.

The trench coat issue became so sensitive in Colorado that officials banned students from wearing them in schools in Denver and most other districts amid fears that the coats could help conceal weapons.

In Cherry Hill, N.J., three teen-agers who wore black trench coats to school and then stood in the hall pantomiming gunfire, were suspended.

In south-central Washington State, a 14-year-old high school student in Prosser was arrested for threatening to blow up the high school.

In Spotswood, N.J., an 18-year-old senior, Russell Saul, was being held on $10,000 bail at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center yesterday after threatening to blow up the Spotswood High School. He was arrested Tuesday after he told a teacher in a rage that he wanted to kill her and another teacher and blow up the school.

Law-enforcement officials in Palmdale, Calif., reported the arrest of two students who said they were members of a trench coat mafia, threatened a third student and talked about making a bomb. The Palmdale police said one suspect was said to have told a girl that he thought the Littleton attack was funny.

In Yonkers, a 16-year-old boy was arrested for taking a gun to Gorton High School, and two classmates were accused of helping him hide it.

In Waterbury, Conn., four boys were arrested for making two fake bomb threats in the North End Middle School, using a classmate's cellular phone. State Police said a 911 operator heard what sounded like children laughing in the background.